Record material feeding means



Sept 17, 1968 A. s. GOODRICH, JR., ET AL 3,401,630

RECORD MATERIAL FEEDING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. 12, 1964INVENTORS ALBERT s. eooomcngm.

VLADMIR IeNATny Sept 17, 1968 A. s. GooDR|cH, JR., ET A1. 3,401,630

RECORD MATERIAL FEEDING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1964INVENTORS ALBERI- s` GooDmcH JR,

Pnffoww Sept. 17, 1968 3,401,630

A. s. GooDRlcH, JR., ET AL RECORD MATERIAL FEEDING MEANS Filed Nov. l2,1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 PrrTmde-y United States Patent O 3,401,630 RECORDMATERIAL FEEDING MEANS Albert S. Goodrich, Jr., Newtown, and VladimirIgnatjev,

Norwalk, Conn., assignors to Pitney-Bowes, Inc., Stamford, Conn., acorporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 410,559. 7 Claims.(Cl. IUI-228) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for feeding a stripof record material to a work station from a remote magazine wherein aguide track containing the strip of record material is fed from themagazine to the work station and the strip of material is advancedthrough the guide track. The magazine consists of two concentriccylindrical shells having apertures in the periphery thereof and theguide track is stored in the magazine between the concentric shells `andthe supply of record material is stored inside the inner shell so thatthe strip of material extends through the aperture of the inner shelland through the guide track to the work station.

The present invention pertains to mechanism for controlling the feedingand guiding of strip web material. More particularly, it relates tofeeding and guiding tape such as is used .as the record medium inimprinting machines.

In accordance with the features of the present invention, there isprovided an elongated flexible track along which the tape is fed andwhich serves to constrain and guide the tape to move in the desireddirection. When not in use, the flexible track can be retracted within aprotective housing, which also serves as a container or magazine for asupply of the tape. For use, the track is extended from the housing to astation where the tape is to be Iacted upon as by being imprinted orotherwise. The imprinting operation lcan be performed on a `portion ofthe tape projecting beyond the leading end of the track, or on the tapein the track, the track being open-sided whereby the tape is exposed.The tape is fed yalong the track by a feed element, such as frictionroller, bearing against the tape in the track and serving to push italong the track. After the imprinted portion of the tape has been cut ortorn off beyond the tracks leading end, the tape can be fed backwardlylalong the track by operating the feed roller in the reverse direction.When not in use, the track and the tape carried therein are once againselectively returned to the protective housing.

In business machines which imprint or otherwise apply indicia to limptape, it is often required that the tape be fed in opposite directionsto and from a work station. Feeding such tape by pulling it from a pointat or downstream of the station is customary, whereas feeding by pushingany significant length of the tape at an upstream point is difficultbecause of the limpness of the tape. Furthermore, it is often desiredthat when tape is not being used, all portions of its feeding mechanismbe away from the printing station to allow another type of recordmedium, for example individual pieces or sheets, to be brought to theprinting station for imprinting.

Heretofore, tape `feeding mechanisms which meet these requirements havebeen relatively complicated.

The present invention, however, provides a novel and considerablysimplified approach. As indicated above, a flexible track is providedfor guiding the tape to and from the printing station. Since the tape isclosely confined by the track, the limp tape can be fed in eitherdirection by applying an appropriately directed feeding force thereto ata point well upstream of the tapes free end. Being flexible, the trackcan be moved easily from a storage ICC area to and from the workstation. If the printing means is of the rotary type, the track can bemoved to place its free end closely adjacent the printing rollers andthe tape fed beyond the track for imprinting. If the printing means isof the reciprocatory type, the track can be moved to lie directly on theplaten, and the printing operation performed directly on the tape lyingin the track, either the printing head or the platen being movable toeffect imprinting.

It is therefore a major `object of the invention to provide a novelmeans for controlling the feeding of strip material such as tape.

It is a further object to provide a strip feeding means in which thestrip is fed by pushing rather than pulling it.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a strip feeding-mechanism in which the strip can easily be advanced to and retractedfrom a desired area of use by a single feeding element.

Another object is the provision of strip feeding mechanism which can beplaced at and removed from a work station, as desired.

Another object is the provision of a selectively positionable flexibletrack for guiding the feeding movement of strip material.

A further object is the provision of such a flexible track which can beadvanced from and retracted into a protective housing structure.

The above and other objects, advantages, and features of the inventionwill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdetailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, whenread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partially in section of a rotaryimprinting machine in which the tape feeding 4mechanism of the inventioncan be incorporated, the track being retracted into its housing which isin lowered, ineffective position.

FIG. 2 is a similar view but with the housing raised and the trackadvanced from the housing to the printing station.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view, partially in section, ofthe housing.

FIG. 4 is .an enlarged cross-section of the track, taken on line 4 4 ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a portion of thetrack.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the track taken on line 6 6of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary left side elevational view, partially insection, of the housing and the drive train for the feed roller.

FIG. 8 is a section taken on line 8 8 of FIG. 2 showing the detent forthe inner shell.

FIG. 9 is front elevational view similar to FIG. 2, showing a modifiedform of printing machine, namely a reciprocatory printer, in `which theinvention can be incorporated.

FIG. l0 is a top plan view, partially in section, taken on line 10`10 ofFIG. 9. y

FIG. 1l is a cross-sectional View similar to FIG. 4, of a modified formof track.

FIG. l2 is a cross-sectional view of a third form of track.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designatesgenerally a printing machine in which the present invention can beembodied. The machine includes a supporting deck 2 providing a guidesurface leading to 'a printing station comprising a conventional rotaryprinting mechanism including a printing roller 3 having a printing dieplate 4 affixed thereto, and a cooperable pressure roller 5 (FIGS. l,2).

A roll 6 of the tape T which is to receive imprinting impressions fromthe printing mechanism is contained in a magazine in the form of ahousing 7 which also serves to house the track 1.0 in which the tape isconfined and guided for longitudinal feeding movement. The housingcomprises two concentric, closely spaced, telescoped, cylindrical shells11, 12. The outer shell 11 has a rearwardly extending tubular hubportion 13 (FIG. 7) in which is rotatably journalled the rearward endportion of a shaft 14 on which the inner shell 12 is secured. Thus, theinner shell can be rotated vrelative to the outer shell, for selectiveadvancement and` retraction of the tape track as will be describedshortly. The tape roll 6 includes the usual core 15 which is looselysupported on a sleeve 16 mounted on shaft 14. A nut 1,7 threaded on theright end of shaft 14 abuts a washer 20. The latter holds sleeve 16 inplace and also retains the tape roll 6 in position.

The track 10 in which the tape is confined and guided for longitudinalfeeding movement will now be described.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the track comprises an elongated basestrip 21 along whose opposite sides extend narrow strip portions 22separated from the base strip by narrower spacer strips 23. The tape Tis held in the track by the portions of outer strips 22 which extendinwardly of spacers 23, and the tape is exposed between inner facingedges of strips 22. The base strip 21 'and the outer strip portions 22are made of thin resilient, smoothsurfaced material such as bluetempered spring steel. The spacers 23 may be made of any suitablematerial, such as the aforementioned spring Steel, or any other suitablemetal or plastic.

These three layers making up the track are secured together at spacedintervals by rivets 24 which pass lOOsely through the two upper layers22, 23. To permit the track to have the desired transverse fexibility,the rivet holes in the spacer strips 23 and the outer strip portions 22are elongated in the direction of the track length. This allows thethree layers of the track to slide longitudinally relative to oneanother, whereby the track can readily be flexed transversely to itslength and will not have the characteristics of a rigid beam. The trackis of the cross-v section shown in FIG. 4 throughout its length. kIt isopen at its respective opposite ends, whereby the tape can enter thetrack at one end thereof and leave at the other end.

The inner end of the track is disposed within the inner housing shell12. From there, it extends through an opening 25 in the inner shell intothe space between the two shells and along the outer surface of theinner shell, being fastened to the inner shell adjacent opening 25, asby rivets 26. The track passes outwardly of the housing through anopening 27 in outer shell 11, resiliently pressing against the end of aplate 30 (FIGS. 3, 10) which extends partially across opening 27. Plate30 is adjustable angularly by virtue of its screw and slot connection31,

32 with the outer shell. The tape T extends from roll 6 thereof throughthe inner end of the track and along the base strip 21, being held onthe track by the inwardly extending narrow strip portions 22.

When the track is not in use, it is retracted into housing 7 by rotatinginner shell 12 counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG. l. Most ofthe track length then lies between the inner and outer shells 11, 12.Since the track is resiliently fiexible, it can without difficultyassume the curved position shown in the narrow space between the twoshells.

At this juncture, it should be noted that the entire housing is rockablebetween a lowered position (FIG. l) to a raised effective position(FIGS. 2, 9, l0) through an opening 33 in the work ldeck 2. A pivoteddoor 34 is biased downwardly by gravity or any suitable spring means tocover opening 33 flush with the adjacent portion of the work deck.

Two rearwardly extending lugs 35 at the bottom of housing 7 support itfor rocking movement about a Shaft 36. A leaf spring 37 acting on theunder side of the housing biases it upwardly. The housing is adapted tobe blocked in ils lowered position by a horizontally movable controlfinger 40 whose under edge lies in the path of movement of hub 13 of theouter shell 11 when the control finger is to the right. To release thehousing for upward movement to raised effective position, a knob 41atachedto finger 40 is pulled toward the left (FIGS. 2, 9), releasingthehousing for upward movement under the urge of spring 37. To return thehousing to its lowered ineffective position, control knob 41 is pushedin, whereby the forward sloping cam edge 42 of finger 40 will engage hub13 and cam the housing down to retracted position below Work deck 2where it is held by the lower horizontal edge of the finger.

After housing 7 has been partially raised to lift `door 34 partly open,inner shell 12 is rotated clockwise to advance track 10 from thehousing. This rotational movement of the inner shell can be effected ybyany suitable power or manual means. For example, a manually engageablefinger piece 43 extending laterally from the inner shell can be providedfor this purpose. v

As the inner shell is rotated, it will push track 10 secured to it outof the housing through opening 33. The track is directed 'by plate 30 toan elongated slot or throat defined between work deck 2 and a closelyspaced overlying member 44.

In the machine of FIGS. 1 and 2 having rotary printing means, the trackis advanced as described above to a point just short of the nip of thecooperating printing rollers 3, 5 (see FIG. 2). As the track is advancedfrom the later retracted back into the housing, there is no relativelongitudinal movement between the tape and track. The tape has asubstantial amount of slack between the inner end of the track and roll6, and the small frictional forces between the track and tape aresufficient to carry the tape along with the track when the latter ismoved.

The inner shell is releasably held in its clockwise (trackadvanced) andcounterclockwise (track-retracted) positions by a pin `45 (FIG. 8)mounted on and urged inwardly by a spring 46 secured to outer shell 11through an opening in the latter into one or the other of twoappropriately positioned holes 47 in the side face of inner shell 12.

After the track has been advanced to the printing station, the tapetherein is fed along the track to lie in the nip of the printingrollers. Then, when the latter are operated in a printing cycle, thetape will be imprinted and will also be driven =by the rollers towardthe right to pass into a discharge chute 48. A rotary cut-off knife 50will subsequently sever the imprinted portion of the tape, whichprotrudes through the upper end of the discharge chute whence can beremoved.

The feeding of the tape relative to track 10 is effected by a resilientrubber or the like feed roller 51 secured on a shaft 52. Feed roller 51is so positioned that when housing 7 is in raised effective position,the roller extends through an opening 53 in outer shell 11 and firmlypresses against the tape in the underlying portion of track 10, thetrack itself being pressed by the roller against inner shell 12. Roller51 will not contact the tape until housing 7 is fully raised. In thisregard, it will be recalled from the previous description that thehousing is only partially raised when inner shell 12 is rotatedclockwise to project the track for use. This is so that when the trackis advanced, the tape will be carried with it without roller 51 engagingand thus holding the tape back and thereby causing relative movementbetween the two.

The roller shaft 52 is driven counterclockwise to feed the tapeforwardly relative to the track, and is driven in the reverse directionfor return movement of the tape. After the tape has 'been fed along thetrack to lie between the cooperating printing rollers 3, 5 the latterare operated under control of any suitable mechanism to cause roller 3carrying the printing die plate 4 to go through in the track. That is tosay,

one full revolution, during which die plate 4 will print on the tape andalso feed it to the right.

During the portion of the printing cycle when die plate 4 engages thetape, housing 7 is rocked a short distance clockwise to remove the tapefrom contact with feed roller 51 and thereby free the tape forlongitudinal movement caused by the printing rollers, between which thetape is gripped during printing. This movement of the housing iseffected by a cam 54 mounted for rotation with die roller 3. The camincludes a lobe 55 shaped so that just before die plate 4 contacts thetape, it Will rock a lever 56 pivoted intermediate its ends at 57counterclockwise which, through a link connection 60 to the outerhousing shell 11 will swing the entire housing 7 down a short distanceaway from feed roller 51. The housing will be held in this position bycam lobe 55 until the die plate has rotated past the tape, and thereforeis no longer feeding the tape rightwardly. Housing 7 is now restoredupwardly by spring 37 so that feed roller 51 is again in effectivedriving contact with the tape in the track.

After the imprinting operation, the feed roller 51 is once againoperated in counterclockwise direction to feed the imprinted portion ofthe tape into the discharge chute 47, and the rotary cutter 50 isoperated by rocking its shaft 61 counterclockwise to sever the imprintedtape. Thereafter, the feed roller is operated in the reverse (clockwisedirection) to feed the tape backward to a point where its free end againlies in the nip of the printing rollers in position for a subsequentimprinting operation.

When the tape feeding mechanism is not being used, the housing can bepartially lowered, the track 4retracted back into it, and the housingrocked clockwise fully down shaft 36 back to its lowered position ofFIG. 1. In this movement it will be followed downwardly by door 34 untilthe latter lies ilush with the Work -deck 2.

The particular means used for driving the feed roller shaft 52 is notimportant to the present invention. This can be done either manually byrotating a hand wheel 62 secured to the shaft, or by any suitable drivetrain from the motor of the machine. A portion of such a drive train isshown in the drawings. It includes a rack 63 meshed with a small pinion64 which is rigid with a larger pinion gear 65. The latter drives apinion 66 rigidly mounted on the feed roller shaft 52. By any suitablearrangement, rack 63 can be driven appropriate amounts and in theappropriate direction to cause the desired rotation of the feed roller.

Substantially the same tape feeding mechanism is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10embodied in a machine having a reciprocatory rather than a rotaryprinting mechanism. Here, printing is effected by 'a verticallyreciprocatory printing head 67, carrying a printing die plate 68, andcooperable with a stationary platen 70. Alternatively, the platen couldbe moved vertically and the printing head stationary.

In the reciprocatory printing machine of FIGS. 9 and 10, when the trackis fully advanced or projected from housing 7 for use, it overliesplaten 70 and its free righthand end is closely adjacent to the cut-offknife 50. The printing operation is actually performed on the tape lyingwhen the printing head 67 descends for the printing stroke it will carrydie plate 68 into printing contact with the underlying tape disposed intrack 10 which is resting on platen 70.

If the printing head is stationary and the platen the vertically movableelement, when the platen rises in the printing stroke it will push upthe track containing the tape to press the tape against die plate 68.Because of its resilient exibility, the portion of the track on deck 2can readily be carried upwardly by the platen even though the -remainderof the track is held down by the housing.

In any event, after the tape in the track has been im printed, feedroller 51 is operated in counterclockwise direction to advance the tapeinto the discharge chute to be severed by the cut-off knife 50. The feedroller is then operated in the reverse direction to return the free endof the tape in the track leftwardly to lie just ahead of die plate 68 inposition -for the next printing operation (FIG. 10).

As in the rotary printing machine of FIGS. 1 and 2, in the FIGS. 9-10reciprocatory printer, when the track is not in use it can be retractedinto the housing by rotating inner shell 12 counterclockwise and thehousing lowered beneath work deck 2. It will be understood that in thereciprocatory printing machine of FIGS. 9-10, the cam S4 and associatedlever 56 and link 601are omitted, since the feeding of the tape issolely under the control of the feed roller S1.

'Ilhe feature whereby the housing when not in use is lowered beneathwork deck 2 and the opening 33 in the latter covered ush by door 34, isparticular-1y useful if it is desired to use the machine for imprintingindividual workpieces as well yas tape. The work deck then presents asubstantially continuous flat surface along which the individualworkpieces can be moved to either the rotary or reciprocatory printingmechanism, without any obstructions on which the individual documentsmight be caught or detiected. When individual workpieces are to beimprinted, the track can either be retracted into the housing or left inplace in projected position. In the latter case, the individualworkpieces are fed to the printing station over the track and, in fact,can even be imprinted while resting on the track in the reciprocatorytype of printing machine. Door 34 can be omitted if necessary, if thetrack is to be left in projected position when individual workpieces arebeing fed.

FIG. 11 shows -a modified form of the track, which includes a strip orpad 71 of very low-friction material such as Teon(polytetrafluoroethylene) secured to the upper surface of base strip 21and positioned to underlie feed roller 51 when track 10 is in its fullyadvanced position projected from housing 7. It has been found that whentapes having higher friction coeicients are used, the inclusion of pad71 will facilitate the feeding of the tape along the track by roller 51.

If it should be diicult to feed tapes made of any particular materialhaving a high coeicient of friction, another alternative which can beused is to coat the tapecontacting portions of the track with verysmooth materi-al such as the aforementioned Tet-lon. For example,referring to the FIG. 4 form of track, the upper surface of base strip21 could be so coated. The tape-contacting portions of strips 22 and 23could also be so coated, if found necessary.

FIG. 12 shows another form of track. Here, the track comprises anintegral molded or extruded plastic body 72 comprising a base portion 73and overhanging lip portions 74. The material of which the body 72 ismade can be any suitable synthetic resin having a low coefficient offriction e.g. polyethylene', polytetrafluoroethylene, etc. Since manysuch materials have a tendency to take on a permanent set when coiled,as they would be when retracted into housing 7, the track of FIG. 12preferably includes a resilient spring steel insert strip 75 running thefull length of the strip and around which the body 72 is formed. Thus,even though the plastic track body 72 may lose its transverse resiliencyto some degree, the composite track will remain springy because ofinsert 75. This prevents the track from becoming limp and thereforediicult to control.

It will be seen from the foregoing description of various forms of theinvention and environments in which it can be used, that it provides anovel and eicient approach to feeding record material such as paperstrips or the like. When not in use, the track can be stored at asubstantial distance from the work station where the tape strip is to beoperated on. For use, the track can be advanced to the work station. Thetape, which is confined in and guided for feeding movement by the track,can readily be fed in either direction along the track by suitablemeans,

such as feed roller 51, located a substantial distance ahead of the workstation. Thus, as contracted with prior art tape feeding arrangements,the present invention provides substantial flexibility as to where thetape feeding mechanism can be located relative to the work station.

would be used as the tape feeding mechanism, and additional letter feedmeans provided, the latter being Well known in the art. n n

It will be apparent that the present inventlon and its various featurescan be applied in numerous embodiments and in many different types ofmachines, other than those described herein. It is therefore intendedthat the foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments of the inventionbe illustrative only and not in any way limitative of the followingclaims.

We claim: 1. In a record material feeding mechanism: a track for guidingthe feeding movement of record materials; a housing for said track andfor record material; said housing including an enclosed outer wall andan enclosed inner wall within said outer wall defining a space for thestorage of said track between said walls and a space for record materialwithin the inner wall; means for allowing said track to be retractedinto and advanced from the space between said walls; said track beingretractable into and advanceable from the space between said walls;control means for selectively advancing and retracting at least aportion of said track into and out of said housing; means for supportinga supply of record material within said inner wall; and means forallowing the passage of the record material into said track. 2. In arecord material feeding mechanism: a track for guiding the feedingmovement of record materials; a housing for said track and for recordmaterial; said housing comprising an enclosed outer wall and an enclosedinner wall within said outer wall defining a space for the storage ofsaid track between said walls and a space for record material within theinner wall; one end of said track being attached to the inner wall andthe other end extending through the outer wall; the inner wall beingmovable relative to the outer wall, whereby movement in one directionwill cause said track to -advance from the housing and in anotherdirection will cause said track to retract into the housing; and meansfor allowing the passage of record material into said track. 3. In arecord material feeding mechanism: a track for guiding the feedingmovement of record materials; a housing for said track and for recordmaterial; said housing comprising an outer wall and a concentric innerwall within said outer wall defining a space for the storage of saidtrack between said walls and a space for record material within theinner wall; said track being attached to the inner wall and extendingthrough the outer wall; the inner wall being movable relative to theouter wall such that relative movement thereof in one direction willcause said track to advance from the housing and in another directionwill cause said track to retract into the housing;

and means for allowing the passage of record material into said track. n4. Apparatus for intermittently feeding a strip of record material froma supply roll to a work station including a magazine positioned remoteYto the work station cniprising: a cylindrical outer shell having anVopening in the periphery thereof, y a cylindrical inner shell concentricYwiththe outer shell and spaced therefromand having anopeninginthepeiipherythereof, f an elongated guide track between the inner shell andthe outer shell and having vone end secured to the inner shell adjacenttothe opening therein and the outer end extending out 'the opening inthe outer shell, A and means within the inner shellfto support aroll ofstrip material with a portion extended through the guide track, v theguide track being suiciently flexible ,to be coiled around the innershell and suicintly rigid in a longitudinal direction to be advancedtowards the work' station, without buckling, means to rotate the innershell without rotating theouter shell to advance the guide track throughthe open-y ing in the outer shell towards the work station and towithdraw the guide track from the work station int the space betwen theinner and outer shells, and means to advance and retract strip materialin the guide track. v

5. The ,apparatus of claim 4 wherein the guide track is formed of a iiatelongated base with spaced anges overlying the edge portions of the basewhereby a strip of record material passing through the guide track isdirected between the lianges and the base. y A

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further including guide means to direct theguide track to the work station as it is advanced from the magazine.

7. In a business machine of the type wherein a strip of record materialis intermittently positioned at a work station to receive printedindicia or the like and a portion thereof is advanced from the workstationto be severed from the strip, apparatus to feed the recordmaterial to the work station and to position the record material at thework station including:

a cylindrical housing comprisingan inner and outer shell concentricallymounted with a space between the shells, and opening in each shell andmeans to support a supply roll of record material in the inner shell,the inner shell being rotatable and the outer shell being held ina fixedposition,

a liexible guide track secured at one end to the inner shell adjacent tothe opening therein and coiled around the inner shell in the spacebetween the inner and outer shells with the free end extending out ofthe opening in the outer shell;

means to rotate the inner shell to advance andl retract tige guide trackthrough the opening in the outer s ell;

guide means positioned to direct the free end of the track to a pointadjacent to the work station, and

means to advance strip material in the guide track forward into andthrough the work station and'to retract the strip material into theguide track.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,565,419 12/1925 Cooke 10i-28s2,973,707 3/1961 Crivelli 101488 XR ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

J. R. FISHER, Assistant Examiner.

